Now is a period of great unknowns. Donald Trump, previously known only for his reality television ventures and ill-looking spray tan, is the president-elect of the Unites States. The House, Senate and White House are controlled by Republicans. And we, as journalists and defenders of the Fourth Estate, are reeling at our total miscalculations.
Justin Peters, of Slate, penned an incredibly eye-opening article today entitled, “Why Trump is terrifying for the freedom of the press.” The piece makes the point, very effectively, that our call to action is now as salient as ever. He wrote, “[Trump] portrayed the press as a group of ethically compromised elitists colluding to thwart his candidacy and stifle the voices of his supporters. He represents a group of people who see a strong independent press not as a necessary check on accumulated power in America but as a bothersome impediment to the accumulation of that power.” Peters then made the most frightening statement of all.
“And he will almost certainly use the office of the presidency to bring the press to heel.”
As student journalists, and humans, who wish to continue this work for the entirety of our careers, this statement does several things. It tells us that we have some re-evaluating to do. It shows us that we must continue forward. And, lastly, it motivates us to deliver the best possible work, more than anything else. However, it does not shock us.
Trump has worked to shield his campaign from the free press for months. The first divisive move came in the form of media pits. We touched on this issue in The Daily Free Press’ editorial right before the election by describing the media pits, which we shall do again. “Trump often cordons off members of the press from his rallies, then points out their presence to his supporters, who, more often than not, jeer and taunt journalists who are simply doing their jobs. The New York Times captured this experience in a 360-degree video, and the effect is nothing less than alarming,” we said. By herding us like cattle at a rally, or a future presidential press conference dare we say, our presence is undermined and degraded to the utmost extent.
Another threat to our purpose came when Trump revoked The Washington Post’s press credentials to cover his events in June, stemming from his personal belief that the information published was not factual – when, in fact, it was. As a president, one cannot throw members of the press out of a conference simply because he does not agree with the words being written. This is also an opportunity to remind Trump of the laws surrounding libel. Without proving “actual malice” against a public figure, it is nearly impossible to sue someone for printing displeasing sentiments about a household name, let alone a president. Trump also seems to disregard that truthful reporting is a fundamental defense to libel.
On top of all else, the changing spheres of media consumption amplify Trump’s abilities to defame the free press. Individuals can their curate social media feeds to read only what confirms their beliefs, therefore avoiding challenging viewpoints. The idea of selectively choosing which facts to consume is incredibly dangerous.
To repeat the sentiments above, Trump’s greatest efforts must not be viewed as roadblocks. They are merely obstacles to overcome, something journalists are particularly talented at doing.
Throughout this election, an enormous amount of investigative journalism has been done, and executed incredibly well. Daily Free Press columnist Max Berman outlined a majority of the works to be lauded with praise, but this is merely a launching pad. Contrary to the doomsday portrayal above, it is an exciting time to be a member of the free press. There are ample opportunities for investigation, especially with a character who has primarily existed in the private realm.
We also have to acknowledge that we have lots to prove. We must prove not only to our peers and a potentially tyrannical president, but also to our nation, that we serve them. Journalists exist in the shadows of newsrooms, din of television sets and blinking lights of radio stations. We are not often in the spotlight, but we do not mind. Serving as a member of the free press, of the Fourth Estate, is often a thankless job. But, it is this thankless job that keeps us coming back day after day. We have not given up, and will never give up. This is only the beginning.
